Bennet, Wyden, Senate Democrats Call for Independent Investigation Into Political Interference in IRS Audits Following Departure of Top Trump Tax Official

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Wyden, Senate Democrats Call for Independent Investigation Into Political Interference in IRS Audits Following Departure of Top Trump Tax Official Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 11 members of the Finance Committee to call on independent investigators at the […] Jul 24, 2026 | Press Releases Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Oversight, joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 11 members of the Finance Committee to call on independent investigators at the Treasury Department to open an investigation into whether Trump Administration officials are violating federal laws that prohibit political influence over federal tax audits. The inquiry comes after a top official at the Treasury Department and the IRS was reportedly forced out of his position after raising similar concerns. “We write to request an investigation into alarming reports about White House officials potentially violating a federal law prohibiting senior officials from influencing federal tax audits, including reports that a top official serving the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was forced out of the administration after raising concerns about those potential violations,” wrote the senators. “If recent reporting is accurate and Mr. Kies did in fact advise White House officials of such risks, it is gravely concerning that this administration chose not only to ignore the IRS’ top legal advisor, but to fire him for attempting to follow the law and protect taxpayers.” Democrats, including Bennet, have been sounding the alarm on Trump’s attempts to use the IRS as an extension of his Administration to aid himself and his allies while punishing enemies. In June, Bennet led a letter with Democratic members of the Taxation and IRS Oversight Subcommittee to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano demanding answers on the settlement addendum reached with President Trump that prevents the Department of Justice from bringing any action or pursuing any tax audit into previous returns filed by Trump, his family members, or affiliated companies. Earlier in the summer, Bennet joined his Democratic colleagues on Senate Finance in calling for a bipartisan committee investigation into Trump’s audit immunity deal as well as the nearly $1.8 billion slush fund. In addition to Bennet, Wyden, and Schumer, U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt) signed the letter. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Acting Inspector General Hill: We write to request an investigation into alarming reports about White House officials potentially violating a federal law prohibiting senior officials from influencing federal tax audits, including reports that a top official serving the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was forced out of the administration after raising concerns about those potential violations. As you know, violations of this law, intended to keep the audit process free of political interference, are punishable by civil and criminal penalties, including up to five years in prison. On July 16, 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported that Kenneth Kies was forced out of his posts as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy and Acting Chief Counsel of the IRS after clashing with political officials over a White House request that may have violated § 7217 of the Internal Revenue Code. As you know, § 7217 prohibits senior administration officials from requesting, directly or indirectly, that the IRS “conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.” Section 7217 also requires IRS personnel to report receiving such prohibited requests to TIGTA – IRS personnel who willfully fail to report prohibited requests are subject to the same penalties as officials who make such requests, including an up to $5,000 fine and up to five years imprisonment. As an acting IRS official, Mr. Kies had an obligation to report the White House request(s) to TIGTA if, as r